Conference League Northern Round 2 Review
Conference League Northern Round 2 Review
Hawkesbury City went top of the ladder on goal difference, but only slightly, with a resounding 12-1 away victory over the hapless Penang.
I would love to know what coach Gary Lewis says to his team just before each match, because for the second week in succession they started like a house on fire, this time scoring six goals after 21 minutes!
The game was all but over at half time with the score 7-1, but the visitors didn?t let up in the second half to finish comprehensively. Jones and Burtenshaw both scored hatricks, the former in just 13 first half minutes, whilst George and Sluiter grabbed a brace, and Vanderburg and McGregor one apiece. Vukelic scored a brilliant free kick for Penang?s consolation goal.
Balmain FC are also on six points from two games, and remain second on the ladder by the one goal, after humiliating Luddenham by 7-0. Johhny Buonavoglia again lead the way with four goals, including a late second half hatrick in just five minutes! Smajovic scored in the 72nd and 87th minutes, whilst Mauceri grabbed the all important first goal for Balmain after 16 minutes of the first half.
In the final match, Prospect United came from behind to snatch a late draw against Springwood with an equalizer by Gabara in the 87th minute. Earlier, Haberman and Hunter had scored either side of half time to put Springwood in front, cancelling out David?s first half opener for United in the 19th minute.
Bathurst ?75 had the week off with the bye.
Conference League Northern Match of the Round
Roosters crow to victory
Magdala Oval, North Ryde, served up a real football treat on an overcast Sunday afternoon, as Gladesville Ryde Magic played host to Roosters FC, in Round Two of the Northern Conference League.
An early afternoon thunderstorm actually caused an interruption to the reserve grade match, but it soon cleared, and the skies remained a little overcast right up until fulltime, without any further rain.
The Roosters started brightly and threatened as early as the 3rd minute, when Orhan hit a swerving cross to the far post for Hattpoglu to chest down, and shoot agonizingly across the face of the goal.
In the 14th minute, Hattpoglu, who was a menace all day for Magic with his strength in holding the ball up, was fouled in a dangerous position on the corner of the penalty box.
Diminutive skipper Topal took the free kick brilliantly, swinging it over the wall, and beating Steell all ends up in the Gladesville goal as the ball hit the outside of the post and bounced to safety.
The home side weathered the early storm and slowly started to come into the match, and their effort was almost rewarded on 16 minutes when Farre hassled Semirci into losing possession, with Gatt picking up the loose ball and smacking a shot from 20 yards straight at Gurbuz in the Roosters goal.
In the 20th minute, Gladesville?s industrious midfielder, Arima, played a great through ball to Farre, who raced into the box and delivered a dangerous low cross, only for Karaman to clear the danger with Gatt breathing down his neck.
In the 23rd minute came the best chance of the first half, falling to the Roosters, when Avsar sliced open the Magic defence for Sevgin to race onto, but he sliced his shot wide with only the keeper to beat.
On 26 minutes Orhan was at it again for the Roosters, with a fierce cross being partly deflected upwards by Steell, and in the ensuing goalmouth scramble Ors hit the crossbar from an acute angle with a well placed header.
In the 31st minute, as Gladesville moved forward tentatively, the Roosters launched a lightning counter attack when Orhan read the play well and intercepted the ball, then playing a wonderful cross field switch to Ors. He squared to Topal who instantly flicked a diagonal pass to Hattpoglu on the corner of the penalty box, and he controlled with his chest before cracking a volley just over the bar to end a breathtaking move.
Gatt from Gladesville was proving a menace up front, almost scoring from the edge of the box in the 32nd minute after he had latched onto a long goal kick from his keeper Steell. He didn?t have to wait too much longer as he scored the opening goal of the game, just 4 minutes from the break. A free kick by Piatta, after Gatt himself had been fouled racing past two defenders, was parried by Gurbuz, with Gatt picking up the scraps to put the home side in front 1-0.
It must be said that the goal did come against the run of play as the Roosters had the better of the action during the first half, and they deservedly scored an equalizer just seconds before the half time whistle.
Sevgin was fouled on the edge of the box when he was through on goal, and from the ensuing free kick, which rebounded into his path, he cracked a low shot through the crowded penalty area into the bottom of the net for 1-1 at the break.
Gladesville Ryde Magic took the initiative in the second half and were 2-1 up on 50 minutes. Martinez did well to round a defender and race along the goal line, before cutting the ball back to Gatt, who was johnny-on-the-spot to hit home number two from close range at the second attempt.
This goal sparked the Roosters into gear, and they started to play their swift, technical football to try and get back into the match.
Sevgin had two great chances to equalize, both brilliantly saved by Steell, the first a header after a great cross by Topal, and the second a downward volley that nearly scraped in. In the 57th minute, Topal put Hattpoglu through and his square ball was tapped in by Ors, but the referee, Mr. Filipczyk, pulled it back for offside.
It was only a matter of time before the Roosters would score, and this they did in the 58th minute with a stunning goal.
A swift move, where the ball was quickly passed upfield from the back, resulted in Sevgin racing down the left touchline, and delivering a pinpoint far post cross which eluded both Steell and his defenders. Tall striker Hattpoglu, a big favourite with the fans, craftily chested the ball into the net for the equalizer.
Just three minutes later and the Roosters fans went delirious as a brilliant far post corner by Orhan was nodded in by Ors via a deflection.
Gladesville?s job was made just that bit more difficult when Piatta was sent off in the 67th minute for an off-the-ball incident spotted by the linesman.
The Roosters then went for the jugular as they took advantage of the extra man by almost scoring a number of times.
In the 39th minute, substitute Rashid raced into the Magic box before being stopped by young Kollias, only for Ors to pick up the loose ball, and square to Sevgin who blasted centimeters wide.
Minutes later and Sevgin finished a great sweeping movement by this time slamming his shot against the upright!
The Roosters put the final nail in the coffin five minutes into injury time when Avsar crossed high to the far post to that man again, Hattpoglu, and he calmly chested forward and slipped the ball past the onrushing Steell to complete the scoring.
The traveling Roosters fans, a club of Turkish extraction, really made a difference with their cheering and support, and were in turn treated to an effective and attractive victory by their team. Credit must also go to coach Saim Turan, who has his team playing a brand of football that is as effective as it is enjoyable to watch.
The best on the day in a strong team performance for the Roosters were; Karaman, who was a tower of strength in defence, Orhan was very effective with his distribution in midfield, Hattpoglu was tough up front and scored two great goals, Sevgin was mesmerizing with his left wing attacking play, and the skipper, Topal, was a brilliant number ten with his technique and skill in setting up play.
For Gladesville Ryde Magic, they really came up against a determined outfit and just couldn?t match them on the day, but the best for them were ; young defender Kollias battled all day against a strong attack, Farre never stopped chasing and working hard in midfield, and Gatt scored two goals in an opportunist display.
Match Stats
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC 2 (Gatt 41?, 50?)
ROOSTERS FC 4 (Sevgin 45?+1, Hattpoglu 58?, 90?+ 5?, Ors 61?)
Gladesville Ryde Magic; 1. Steell ?, 4. Ilacqua, 18.Arima,11. Farre (22.Bonsu 90?),
10. Piatta,14.Gatt,23. Pavlis,8. Martinez, 21. Earl,15. Kollias, 24.Tahmastan
(16. Mav 70?)
Subs not used; 9.Ganiatsas, 6.Kojic, RGK.Hussary.
Roosters FC ; 2.Gurbuz, 46. Orhan (9. Rashid 79?), 24. Avsar, 10. Topal ?,
25. Gogebakan, 18. Semirci, 20. Ors, 15. Karaman, 13. Girken (23. Celik 38?,
16. Turkdogan 65?), 44. Hattpoglu, 11. Sevgin.
Subs not used; 1. Gunalp, 19. Omari
-By Frank Speranza
